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World Vegan Day

Vegan: >>for health >>for the people >>for the animals >>for the planet >>for nonviolence and compassion.

HAVe A PICK,Whatever reason resonates with you!

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Viewing our individual preferences (regional, climactic and seasonal) with respect to the finality of earth’s resources will help regenerate the planet and restore its potentials, as well as the prospects of its growing population.

The planet’s current food systems, particularly in the developed world are wasteful and unsustainable. ‘Unsustainable food system’ implies that the energy, and hence the cost, expended for bringing the food item from its source to the consumer is higher than the value of the item, which is not warranted in the long run.

There is enough land currently used for other activities (with the same ultimate purpose: more foodstuffs) which can, in due course, be replaced with arable, productive land.

We need to start implementing everything we know about permaculture, food forests, ecological gardens and composting, and consider the ramifications of relying on their use, so that eventually we can stop the degradation of the environment, and give the land time to replenish.

The less time food spends traveling to its consumer, the less energy and money is spent on supplying and delivering it, cutting the carbon footprint per consumption capita, therefore diminishing final costs of products and playing a huge role for localized food systems.

Purchasing and consuming locally farmed products, the source of which is situated close to you, therefore cutting shipping, transporting and re-stocking costs, is most energy efficient and most ecologically and economically beneficial.

There is much talk of cargo and passenger transportation and carpooling when considering all the ways to reduce the CO2 emissions, so the same manner should be applied when estimating greenhouse gas emissions resulting from our negligent diets. And it takes the most basic math to recognise that eating a natural vegetarian or vegan diet conserves infinitely more carbon dioxide per year.

Statistically, as the use of land to farm and produce meat is far greater than to cultivate and grow organic produce, the same area of land can feed about twenty times more vegetarians and vegans than meat-eaters. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), ‘the number of people fed in a year per hectare ranges from 22 for potatoes and 19 for rice down to 1 and 2 people respectively for beef and lamb’.

It is true that each region has different climactic constrains and therefore varying local and seasonal supply, so that is to be taken into account. With the most variety of fresh whole produce we get the most complete required nutrients, so we would have to partially rely on imports of selective products which cannot be farmed regionally. But, at any rate, it is a clearly superior diet than processed, packaged ‘food’ that most people (try to) sustain themselves on.

If we stopped eating those foods, and relied for our nutrients on organic produce, which essentially doesn’t need packaging, the waste from that kind of diet can be composted, therefore re-used very efficiently to treat and fertilize soil. With minimal garbage and organic recycling we would free up tons of energy for other, more sustainable uses.

In the end, everyone weighs their options differently. But taking individual steps and bit by bit, collectively, we can make a difference that profoundly affects us all. Individual decisions greatly impact the whole by understanding, sharing knowledge and best practices and focusing on the end result and the grand scheme of things: our planet.

Inquire about local resources and support local farmers by purchasing the bulk of your regular produce from them, hence disrupting the business-run supply/demand cycle. Look for co-ops in your area. It is more advantageous for your wallet, your waistline and your wellness.

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One thought on “World Vegan Day”

Frightening figures!
But finally I have a definition of me: Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian!
And, must admit – more concerned about all health matters, therefore in favour of veganism, than about environment. But, hey…don’t tell